Getting rid of the dollar bill won't make a lot of cents, Fed says

By Los Angeles Times, adapted by Newsela staff Dec. 18, 2013

https://newsela.com/articles/fed-dollars/id/2215/
What makes this text complex and worth reading?
Quantitative This article is from the L.A. Times and adapted in several different Lexile Score
abilities levels by the Newsela website. I chose to use the article at the Lexile Score of 790 for
all but 2 of the students in this LRE Personal Financial Math class. This score equates to a 4
th
-
5
th
grade reading level. This article consisted of 711 words. Commonly, large metropolitan or
national newspapers have articles that consist of 1,200 words and smaller newspapers have
articles that typcially range from 600-800 words.
Qualtitative - This article uses figurative language and draws upon the use of metaphors. The
article will challenge readers at both the higher Lexile Score levels and also those who have
IEPs with reading modifications. I recognize two students in the class of 26 that have a higher
reading level, so I will instruct those students to read this same article at the 1140 Lexile Score
Level, which equates to an 11
th
grade CCR Band .
Reader and Task.- Personal Financial Math will task students to not just conduct calculations
related to money, but learn how to handle coins and dollar denominations and count back
change. I would use this article as a part of an Anticipatory Set at the start of the unit of study
about money and banking. This article will serve to tap their motivation and interest in this topic
Perhaps some of these students will enter the workforce in entry-level service jobs and be
asked to handle coin denominations while working at Wal-Mart, McDonalds, etc This article
and set of complex text questions appears to have similar activities they might see on the
PARCC Test this year (Question 4 Select the paragraph from the article...) .
Newsela Quiz has 4 questions
Question 1 (Standard 2 -Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their
development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas. )
Which sentence is MOST important to the main idea of the article?
A - But, the Federal Reserve says, "Don't bet on it."
B -The study by the Fed found that the dollar bill lasts longer than people realize.
C -The Fed study said the idea that a dollar coin would save a lot of money is wrong.
D -The report said surveys have shown that most Americans like the bill over the coin.
Answer C
Question 2 (Standard 2 - Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their
development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas)
Why is it unlikely that the Fed is lying when it says switching to a dollar coin would be too
expensive?
A -The Fed does not keep any profits.
B -The Fed is part of the government.
C -The Fed controls the nation's money.
D -The Fed puts out money through its regional banks.
Answer - A
Question 3 (Standard 2 - Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development;
summarize the key supporting details and ideas)
Which of the following is the main idea of the article?
A -The dollar bill is lasting longer than ever before.
B -Most Americans want a dollar coin but the Fed says it will cost too much.
C -The government is debating whether coins or dollar bills last longer.
D -The Fed says replacing the dollar bill with a coin will cost more money.
Answer D
Question 4 (Standard 2 - Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their
development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas)
Select the paragraph that discusses the motivations of the Dollar Coin Alliance. Standard #2
Exploring Central Ideas. The student reader is asked to select a paragraph from the article that
shows evidence from the group of people who want the Dollar Bill kept alive.
Answer At that cost, the government would make money on the switch only if the bills
lasted less than 4.75 years. With a current shelf life of 70 months, or about 5.8 years, the bill
is the better choice, the Fed said.